○○Chapter 4 - Not in Destiny Island's Anymore○○

SORA WATCHED AS EVER DISAPPEARED INTO THE JUNGLE, THEN FOCUSED BACK TO BATTLING THE SHADOWS. They kept coming, coming and coming, one after another, their freaky eyes seemed to peer right into his soul as they surrounded him. More multiplying one after another.

He swung wildly, trying to keep them at a distance, but his wooden weapon wasn't much help at all. They slithered and jumped, evading his attacks effortlessly.

He didn't want to let Everly go alone, but there was no other choice. She had to find their friends. He swung again, this time hitting one of the creatures square in the face. It dissolved, but another took its place. The storm was growing stronger every second, the wind whipping through the palm trees and the ominous glowing ball in the sky pulsing with power. The air felt heavy, thick with something Sora couldn't explain. It wasn't just a storm—there was something unnatural about all of it nor was it normal.

"Everly!" he cried, hearing screaming faintly in the distance, and his heart skipped a beat. She sounded scared, more scared than he had ever heard her before and, she's usually the brave one.

His stomach twisted. I have to go after her.

Sora made a split-second decision. He couldn't hold off the shadow creatures forever with just a wooden sword, and if Ever was in trouble, there was no time to waste. He dodged another swipe from a creature, then bolted in the direction Ever had gone, his feet pounding against the sand as he ran.

The darkness of the jungle loomed ahead of him, but something felt off—more off than before. It was quiet, too quiet minus the howling wind. "Ever!" he called again, his voice echoing into the trees. "Riku? Kairi? Where are you guys?!"

No response.

The only sound was the pounding of his heart beating in his ears like drums. He pushed through the thick bushes, he spotted something—footprints in the mud. Ever was here. He followed them deeper into the part of the jungle.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement."Ever?" Sora's heart pounded. His steps quickened as he rounded the corner toward the hut by the waterfall. He gasped when he saw the thorny vines snaking across the ground, fresh drops of what looked like blood staining the leaves. That blood didn't belong to just anyone.

Panic flooded him."Everly!" he shouted again, louder this time. He sprinted to the edge of the waterfall, eyes wide as he scanned the area. Then he saw it—a dark hole, like a black void in the earth. The vines were retreating into it, and Sora's heart dropped when he realized Ever was nowhere to be found."No... no!" Sora dropped to his knees, staring at the hole as if he could somehow pull her back out just by sheer willpower. "Everly!" His voice cracked, the raw edge of fear and desperation tearing at him.Without thinking, he scrambled toward the hole, ready to dive in after her. But before he could, the ground beneath him trembled violently as the hole closed up as if it wasn't there to begin with.

Sora stood frozen for a moment, staring at the ground where the hole used to be. His mind was racing, and a cold, suffocating fear gripped his chest. Everly had disappeared, swallowed by the shadows, and he wasn't fast enough to stop it.The thought hit him like a wave: What if she's gone? What if I never see her again?

"No... no, no, no!" His voice was hoarse, panic rising as the weight of it began to settle on his shoulders.

His twin sister, the one person who had always been there for him—what if she was... dead? The word clawed at his mind, refusing to leave. The image of her being dragged into the ground replayed over and over.

Sora fell to his knees, pounding his fists into the ground.

The shadows danced around him, but he couldn't focus on them anymore. All he could think about was her. This isn't happening. It can't be happening.He had to find her. He had to believe she was still out there somewhere. But that nagging voice at the back of his mind whispered the worst possibility—the one he didn't want to face.What if she's really gone?

Tears pricked at the edges of his eyes, his body trembling with fear and frustration. He wanted to scream, to tear through the island and find her, but the shadows were closing in, and he felt powerless.

His wooden sword fell from his hand as he stared at the ground, his heart breaking.

He couldn't lose her. But as the storm raged on, and the darkness crept closer, Sora couldn't shake the overwhelming fear that maybe—just maybe—he was too late.

Knowing he had to keep going and find Riku and Kairi. He forced himself off the ground, picked up his sword, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. The darkness swirled around him, but he pushed through it, stumbling across the island, desperate for any sign of his friends. As he reached the familiar shoreline, his eyes landed on Riku, standing by the Paopu tree.

"Riku!" Sora called out, his voice raw with emotion as he sprinted toward him. "Riku, have you seen Kairi?!"

Riku turned slowly, his expression eerily calm. The wind whipped through his silver hair, but he stood still, almost detached from the world around him.

Sora grabbed his friend's arm, trying to shake him out of it. "Riku, did you see Kairi?! Everly—she's gone! The shadows took her! We have to find them!"

Riku looked down at Sora's hand on his arm, then back at him, his gaze distant and strange. "The door has opened, Sora. Now we can go to the outside world!"

Sora was confused by Riku's words. "What are you talking about? Kairi is out there! We need to help her and find Everly!" His desperation was mounting, and he couldn't understand why Riku wasn't panicking like he was.

Riku faintly smiled. "Kairi's  coming with us and we will see Everly again..." He looked up at the sky. "Once we step through, we might not be able to come back! We may never see our parents again! There's no turning back. But this may be our only chance. We can't let fear stop us! I'm not afraid of the darkness!"

"Riku-" the ground beneath them rumbled, and more shadows rose.

The dark grew stronger, and Riku extended his hand towards Sora."Come with me, Sora. There's no turning back now."

Sora took a step backward, torn between his fear for Kairi's safety and his confusion over his best friends behavior.

He glanced around, the storm growing stronger and stronger. His mind flashed to Kairi. He couldn't just abandon her.

Sora backed away, backing away from Riku. This is not the Riku he knew.

Riku was engulfed by the darkness, swallowing him whole.

The wooden sword in Sora's hand began to glow. Sora looked down in confusion, watching as the light intensified, spreading along the length of the weapon until it was almost blinding.

In the next moment, the sword changed. It elongated, reshaping itself into something new—something that felt powerful, like it was meant to be wielded. When the light faded, Sora stood there holding what looked like a large key, it felt right in his hands.

A Keyblade.

Sora stared at it for a moment, not fully understanding what had just happened. But the shadows didn't give him time to think. They attacked again, but this time, Sora swung the Keyblade with more purpose, and the creatures seemed to crumble under its power.

With each strike, they dissolved into wisps of darkness, vanishing like they had never existed. For the first time since the storm began, Sora felt like he had a chance—like he could actually fight back.

He tightened his grip on the Keyblade, determination flashing in his eyes. "I'm coming, Kairi," he muttered under his breath, the fear in his heart replaced by a fierce resolve.

With the Keyblade in hand, he charged forward through the shadows, heading toward the secret cave where he hoped Kairi still was—where he hoped he could still save her.

Sora bolted away from Riku, his heart pounding harder with each step. The island around him was crumbling into darkness, but he had only one goal in mind: find Kairi and make sure Everly hadn't vanished for good.

"Kairi!" he shouted as he ran toward the secret cave, hoping against hope that she was there. He stumbled, catching himself before he fell, forcing himself to keep moving despite the growing shadows and strange creatures appearing in the distance. Where is she? His chest tightened, the thought of losing both his best friend and Everly too much to bear.

Bursting into the cave, Sora skidded to a stop. His breath caught in his throat as he saw Kairi standing there in front of the door, her small figure illuminated by an eerie light. "Kairi!" he called again, rushing toward her.

But something was wrong. She wasn't moving, just staring blankly ahead. Her eyes looked distant, as if she was in some sort of trance.

"Kairi?" Sora approached slowly, reaching out to her. "Kairi, are you okay?"

Before he could touch her, the door behind her exploded with light. Kairi turned and looked at him. "Sora...," she whispered weakly, her voice barely audible. Before he knew it, she was flying toward him—her weightless form crashing into his arms.  She vanished. Kairi's body dissolved into a mist.

"No!" Sora cried, his heart sinking. First Everly, then Riku now Kairi—everything was falling apart around him. The world seemed to shatter as he was thrown backward, the force of the door's energy sending him spiraling into the darkness.

~~~~

In a world of never-ending nighttime only lit by neon signs and old fashioned street lamps lies a town divided into three districts; outside the entrance stood three individuals, a duck with white feathers, a yellow bill and webbed feet accompanied by a tall dog with dark fur and long floppy ears like a hound dog, two bucked teeth wearing a funky yellow and lastly an adorable dog with yellow-orange fur.

"Gawrsh, is this the place King Mickey was talking about?" the dog asked, looking at the giant wooden double doors with a "Welcome to Traverse Town" sign hanging above it.

"That's what it says in the letter."  the duck answered, "Let's go." Pushing open the door, the two walked in with the dog casually following from behind.

~~~~
Ever fluttered her eyes open, her vision blurry and her body aching. Her surroundings were unfamiliar, dimly lit by soft, eerie light. The last thing she remembered was being dragged by those shadow creatures, feeling the thorns cutting into her skin, and then... nothing.

As her vision cleared, she realized she wasn't on Destiny Islands anymore. Instead, she was in some kind of strange, dark world. The sky above her was swirling with a mixture of black and violet clouds, with strange, shimmering lights flickering in the distance. The ground beneath her was cold and hard, made of some type of black stone that seemed to stretch out endlessly.

"Where am I?" she whispered, her voice shaky as she tried to sit up. Her body was heavy, her limbs sore, and she winced as she felt the lingering pain in her ankle where the vine had grabbed her.

She looked around, trying to get her bearings. The only thing she remembers is those creature's, searching for her friends with her brother....wait....

Where were her friends? Where was her brother? And what was this place?

As she forced herself to stand, wobbling slightly, a new realization hit her—a deep, empty feeling in her chest, like something vital was missing. Her heart raced, and she clutched her chest, feeling as though a part of her was gone, something that was essential to who she was.

"What... happened to me?"

Before she could gather her thoughts, a low, echoing voice called out from the shadows. "Lost, are we?"

Ever spun around, searching for the source of the voice. Out of the darkness stepped a figure cloaked in black, their face hidden beneath a hood. They moved slowly toward her, their presence sending a shiver down her spine.

"Who are you?" Ever demanded, trying to sound fearless.

The figure chuckled softly, their voice cold and distant. "That's not the question you should be asking. The real question is—what have you become?"
Ever's voice trembled as she asked, "What do you mean?" She took a step back, her heart pounding, though she still felt that hollow, aching sensation in her chest. Something was wrong—terribly wrong.

The cloaked figure tilted their head, as if amused by her confusion. "You felt it, didn't you? That emptiness inside. That sense that something precious has been taken from you."

Ever's hand instinctively went to her chest again. The dull ache there hadn't gone away, and it only intensified as the figure spoke. She didn't know how to respond—fear and confusion clouding her thoughts.

"You've been touched by the darkness," the figure continued, taking a slow step closer. "It's not something you can easily shake off. It changes you—forever."

Ever shook her head, refusing to believe it. "No! I—I'm not... I'm not one of those things! I'm not part of the darkness!"

The figure chuckled again, a sound that made her skin crawl. "Not yet. But you're closer than you think. The shadows have marked you. Soon, you'll understand... everything, dearie."

Her legs felt weak, but Ever steadied herself. "I don't care what you say. I'm not giving in to any darkness. I'm finding my brother. I'm finding my friends. And I'm leaving!"

The figure was silent for a moment, as if considering her words. Then they extended a hand, dark energy swirling around it. "You may think you can escape, but once the darkness finds you, it never lets go."

Ever's pulse quickened. She took another step back, ready to bolt if the figure came any closer. But something in her chest—something about that empty feeling—kept her frozen in place.

"Run if you want," the figure said, their voice echoing into the darkness. "But remember... the more you resist, the stronger and more powerful it grows."

As Ever collapsed, she felt a strange lightness overtake her. The world around her seemed to swirl and blur as she found herself floating just above her own body. Her form lay on the cold cobblestone street of some town, completely still. Panic surged through her, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't move closer to her physical self.

Am I..outside of my body?

Am I dead?

She looked around in a daze, trying to comprehend what was happening. She could hear the distant murmurs of people passing by, unaware of her predicament.

Suddenly, she saw her own body being lifted by a man with dark hair and a weathered, serious expression. He handled her carefully, carrying her back toward the hotel. Ever followed well close behind, her face full of concern.

"She pushed herself too hard," Yuffie said quietly to the man.

The man, who Yuffie had called Leon, nodded grimly. "She's lucky to be alive right now. But if we don't figure out what's going on, she may not make it."

Ever's mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. What does he mean? Why can't I wake up?

Just before everything went dark again, she heard Leon's voice in the distance, clear but ominous: "The Heartless are after her. We need to protect her, or she'll be lost to the darkness."

She drifted behind them as they brought her body back to the hotel room with yellow walls and green trimmings and laid her on the bed.

Ever felt the pull of something, as though her spirit was being yanked back toward her body. She fought it, unsure of what was happening, but the sensation grew stronger.

~~~~

She gasped as she sat upright, she looked to see she was lying in a room. She sat upright quickly and immediately regretted doing it that fast when her head began to spin.

"Careful."

A hand touched her shoulder making her gasp and looked to only see a girl with short raven colored hair with a white headband and bright colored scarf around her neck.

"W-who are you," she stuttered, "W-where am I?"

"Relax girl, your safe, you're in Traverse Town, I am the great Ninja Yuffie."

"Traverse Town."

The girl named Yuffie nodded.  "What's your name?"

"Everly." she answered, "What happened? How did I get here?"

"You were found out cold in the streets so a friend brought you here to the hotel."

Ever stayed silent, not knowing what to think. "Oh my, Sora..Kairi..Riku..I need to find them!" she attempted to get up only to be pushed back down. "You need to rest." "I can't, my brother is out there!"

She forced myself out of bed and took off out of the room ignoring the girl. "SORA!" Ever shouted. "RIKU! KAIRI! SORA!" Ripping open the front door and came face to face to a scenery that is not her home.

~~~~

Sora entered an Accessory Shop confused on where he is..more like where in the world.

"Hey there, how can I-" A middle aged man with scruffy blonde hair who was standing behind a long counter with his arms on his hips. The shop was decent and welcoming looking with lots of jewels

"Aw, it's only a kid."

Sora scowled. He doesn't like being referred to as a kid, he's fourteen for crying out loud! "I'm not a kid! And the name's Sora."  "Whoa ok, ok, simmer down a notch." He said. "What's with the long face Sora? You lost or somethin?" "No! Well, maybe. Where are we?"

"You're in Traverse Town," the man replied, leaning against the counter. "Name's Cid, by the way.."

"Traverse Town?" Sora echoed, feeling a chill. "I've never heard of such a place."

Cid sighed, his expression softening a bit. "Some worlds get swallowed by darkness. The people who survive end up here. You must've had a rough time if you ended up here."

Sora nodded. "I'm looking for my sister and friends. Have you seen anyone else come through here?"

Cid shook his head. "Sorry, kid—uh, . Haven't seen anyone matching your description. But don't lose hope. Traverse Town's a big place. You might find some answers if you look around."

Thanking Cid, Sora left the shop, determined to find the people he cares  about then figure out what was going on and find a way to get back home. As he stepped back out, he couldn't shake the feeling that this journey was just beginning.

~~~~

Ever impatiently paced the room, fidgeting with her fingers while waiting to hear back from Yuffie about Sora. She said some guy named Squall, who prefers to be called Leon, is out looking for him. 

She wants to believe that all of this is a dream. One minute she was on the island, the next she was in a strange place.

Hoping they would find him, Ever felt a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

Just then, Yuffie came into the room followed by a guy with long dark hair whom she believes is Leon.

"Sora?!" Ever exclaimed when she saw him in Leon's arm, unconscious. "What happened to him?"

"He fainted." Leon replied. He brought the boy's body and gently laid him on the bed and then faced her. "Your brother will be ok."

~~~~

"Come on, lazy bum. Wake up."

Huh.

That voice.

Feeling the soft fabric underneath him, Sora sat upright, rubbing his head. He opened his eyes to see Kairi. How? He saw her disappear before his eyes.

"You good?" She asked with her hands on her hips.

"Uh, I guess." Sora replied.

"Those creatures that attacked you are after the Keyblade." Kairi explained. How does she know all this? "But it's your heart they really want, because you wield the Keyblade."

Sora tried to listen but his mind was somewhere else. "I'm so glad you're okay, Kairi."

"Kairi? Who are you talking about? I'm the great Ninja Yuffie."

Huh?

Sora shut his eyes then reopened them to see a girl looking at him.

The girl, Yuffie turned and looked at the guy that he fought. "I think you might even overdone it, Squall."

"That's Leon." Leon corrected her.

"How hard did you hit your head, bro?"

Sora jerked his head to his sister and smiled as a wave of relief washed over him. "Everly!" He hugged her tightly, holding her close to ensure he wasn't hallucinating and feeling relieved that she was alright. "You're okay!" He checked her over, looking for any signs of injuries. The only minor things he noticed were cuts on her hands and ankles, and one on the side of her head. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

Yuffie grinned, watching the siblings reunite. "Aww, you two are so cute. Sibling power, am I right?"

Leon crossed his arms, his expression still serious. "Don't get too comfortable, yet. There's still a lot you two don't know." He walked over to the window, peeking outside as if he was watching for something—or someone.

"The Keyblade..." Sora said as he spotted the weapon resting against the wall.

"Yeah, we had to get it away from you to shake off those creatures. It turns out that's how they were tracking you." Yuffie explained as she went and stood by Leon.

"Thank you, both of you." I thanked them.

Yuffie smiled.

Leon nodded and crossed his arms.  "It was the only way to conceal your heart from them. But it won't work for long. He reached and picked up the Keyblade. "Still hard to believe that you of all people are the chosen one." He swung the blade and it disappeared in a flash of light then reappeared in Sora's.

"Woah."

Awestruck by the weapon. "Incredible." Everly murmured.

Leon walked up to Sora. "Well, I suppose beggars can't be choosers."

Sora got irritated. "Why don't you start making sense! What's going on here?"

"And how is Sora the chosen one?"  Everly asked.

Yuffie, leaned in toward Sora and Everly.

Leon took a deep breath, looking between Sora and Everly. "Alright. Here's the short version. The Keyblade is a powerful weapon, meant to protect the worlds from darkness. It can only be wielded by someone with a strong heart, and for whatever reason, it chose you, Sora."

Sora looked down at the Keyblade in his hand, still trying to wrap his head around everything. "But why me?"

Leon shook his head. "We don't know. That's the mystery. But as long as you hold the Keyblade, the Heartless will be after you. They're drawn to it—and to your heart."

"The Heartless?" Sora and Everly said in sync.

Yuffie spoke. "The ones who attacked you, you remember?"

"Those without hearts." Leon added.

"The darkness in people's hearts—that's what attracts them." Yuffie explained.

"And there is darkness within every heart." Leon finished.

Yuffie nodded enthusiastically. "And Everly, there's something about you too. Maybe it's connected to Sora or maybe something else, but the Heartless have been targeting you as well. You're both part of this, whether you like it or not."

Ever's jaw dropped. "How..I don't have Keyblade?"

Yuffie shrugged, her grin widening. "That's the thing! We don't really know why. You don't have the Keyblade, but you're still important. There's something about your heart that's got the Heartless all riled up."

Leon crossed his arms, nodding. "That's the thing! We don't really know why. You don't have the Keyblade, but you're still important."

Everly's mind raced. "But what am I supposed to do without a Keyblade? I can't fight as well like Sora can."

Leon met her eyes. "You don't need a Keyblade to fight. There's strength in you that goes beyond just a weapon. You'll find your way, just like Sora will."

Sora stepped up beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure it out, Ever. We've always been a team."

Everly hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. We'll figure it out together."

Yuffie silently gushed at the two's bond. Ah, I wish I have a brother or a sister.

"Hey, have you heard of someone named Ansem?" Yuffie asked , glancing between Ever and Sora.They both shook their heads, confused.

Yuffie leaned in closer. "Ansem was a man who dedicated his life to studying the Heartless. He recorded all his findings in a detailed report—a journal. But something happened, and now the pages of that report are scattered across different worlds. No one knows where they all ended up."

Leon nodded in agreement. "The King is out there somewhere, looking for those pages. He's also searching for something else... the 'key.'"

Ever perked up. "The Keyblade?"

"We think so," Leon said. "It's all connected, and whatever Ansem was studying holds the answers we need. But gotta have those journal pages first."

Sora raised the balder to his eye level. "So... this is the key?"

Yuffie nodded. "Exactly!"

"The Heartless have great fear of the Keyblade." Leon said. "That's why they'll keep coming after you no matter what."

"Well, I didn't ask for this." Sora defended himself.

"None of us did." I said. "I guess fate works in mysterious ways."

"The Keyblade chooses its master." Yuffie looks over at Sora. "And it chose you."

Leon wave his hand and leaned against the door. "So tough luck."

Everly bit her lip, looking at her brother. "So, what are we supposed to do? Just keep running from these creatures?"

Leon's expression softened, sensing their worry. "No. You won't be running forever. You'll need to fight—and find out why the Heartless are targeting you. There's more to this than just the Keyblade. We think something bigger is going on."

Everly nodded, her grip on her brother's arm tightening.

Leon gave them both a firm look. "Good. Because this journey isn't going to be easy. But as long as you have the Keyblade, you have a chance to stop the darkness."

Yuffie grinned, bouncing on her heels. "And hey, you've got us to help out! We'll be there when you need us. Traverse Town is a good place to get your bearings and rest up."

"How did all this happen?" Sora asked, thinking hard, "I remember being in my room..." He gasped standing up and looked at Yuffie and Leon. "Wait a minute! What happened to our home? Our island!" He looks at Everly.

Mirroring Sora's anxious expression. Ever frowned. "Riku! Kairi! Our parents! Where could they be?"

Leon, whose eyes are closed in though, shrugged. "You know what? I really don't know."

Sora's shoulder slumped as he tried to process everything he'd just learned about the Keyblade, Heartless and the scattered journal of Ansem. It was overwhelming, but his mind kept circling back to his missing friends.

Meanwhile, Ever, exhausted from the emotional roller coaster of the day or night or whatever time of day it is, laid back down to rest her eyes for a few moments, to calm her racing thoughts. Despite her worries, she needed a moment to regain her strength. As her eyes closed, her thoughts swirled again–how had things gotten so crazy so fast? Where were her friends, and what was her role in all this madness?
As Ever lay there, her hand instinctively went to her chest, feeling the faint but persistent throbbing. Her mind flashed back to the haunting moments when she had been dragged into darkness by the shadows. She could vividly recall the eerie figure with spiky hair, the sensation of being touched by the darkness, and the ominous feeling of being marked by the shadows.

The memory of the darkness was unsettling, almost as if it had left an invisible permanent mark on her life. The figure's haunting presence and the feeling of being consumed by the shadows were etched into her brain. It was as if the darkness had left an imprint, a connection she couldn't fully understand but could definitely feel.

Ever's breath quickened as she recalled the intensity of those moments. The sensation of being marked by the shadows made her shiver, and she wondered if this connection to the darkness was something she could ever truly escape. The pain in her chest seemed to pulse in rhythm with the dark memories, reinforcing her fear that the shadows might still have a grip on her.

Ever took a deep breath and focused on on whats now. Despite the fear and uncertainty, she knew she had to face whatever this darkness was and find a way to protect herself and her loved ones.

"Just can't sit still can you?" Leon asked Sora who was learning some of the ways of the Keyblade. "Sooner or later, the Heartless will find you. You'd best prepare yourself."

"Prepare myself?" Sora asked.

"To fight for your life. Are you ready?" Leon said.

Sora nodded. "I'm ready."

Leon turned to Yuffie. "Yuffie, let's go join Aerith. She should be there now with the other visitors."

Yuffie gasped. "Leon!" She points to see Heartless appear in front of her.

"Ah!" Everly clutched her chest, a sharp throbbing pain through her heart.

"Everly!" Sora panicked.

"Yuffie, get Everly out of here!" Leon exclaimed, his voice urgent.

Yuffie quickly moved to Everly's side. "Come on, Everly, we have to go!" She helped her up, her eyes darting to the Heartless closing in.

Everly, clutching her chest and wincing in pain, tried to stand but staggered. "I can't... it hurts..."

"Yes, you can!" Yuffie insisted, guiding her towards the door. "We need to get you to safety!"

Sora, his eyes wide with fear, watched as Yuffie helped Everly. "Be careful, both of you!"

Leon faced Sora, gripping his weapon tightly. "Stay focused, Sora. We'll handle this. Protect your heart and fight with everything you've got."

The Heartless swarmed closer, their sinister forms filling the hallway. Yuffie, with Everly in tow, dashed down the corridor, trying to find a safe refuge. The sounds of the battle between Leon, Sora and the Heartless echoed behind them, growing louder as they fought.

Everly, though in pain, managed to stay on her feet with Yuffie's support. "Where are we going?" she asked weakly.

"Somewhere safe," Yuffie replied. "Just hang on a little longer. We'll get through this."

They rounded a corner, the roar of the Heartless growing faint as they put distance between themselves and the danger.

Everly looked at Yuffie, her face pale and eyes filled with confusion and fear. "What's happening to me?" she asked, her voice trembling. Everly's grip on her chest tightened. "What can I do? I can barely stand..."

"We need to get you to a safe place where we can get you help," Yuffie said firmly. "Hang in there, Everly. We're almost there."

As they walked out of the building, Yuffie guided Everly to the 3rd District, keeping an eye on their surroundings, making sure no Heartless followed them. She knew that the darkness Everly was experiencing was serious and hoped they could find a solution soon.